400 Teens Rate L.v. Drug Fight Area Receives Score Of C- In Survey

April 15, 1993|by SONIA CSENCSITS, The Morning Call

The Lehigh Valley averages a C- in the way it deals with drug and alcohol problems.

At least that is how 400 teens who took a recent survey rated the Valley in terms of awareness and education, risk-taking, influences affecting teens, recreation and the job done by parents and schools.

The students rated local efforts regarding drug, alcohol and other problems teens face in the '90s.

The consensus of students who took part in the survey is that the Valley is doing a pretty good, but not great, job.

The first report card issued by Lehigh Valley youth was announced yesterday at Bethlehem Catholic High School during the Alcohol and Drug Dependence Center/Lehigh Valley High School Advisory Council meeting. More than 21 high schools from Lehigh and Northampton counties are council members.

More than 400 Lehigh Valley teens from 16 schools answered 33 questions in a survey developed by a council committee.

In introducing the report card, Alcohol and Drug Dependence Center Executive Director John Miller said to the students, "This is your perception of how you think the Lehigh Valley is responding."

Alice Mesaros, center director for prevention and education director, said, "This is a good opportunity for us to look at what we are doing, and plan for the future. It is OK so far, but there is a lot more to do."

The students gave themselves and their peers an F in risk-taking as they measured their response to problems associated with drug and alcohol use. Three out of four said they think half of their peers drink and drive, and the same number said half of their peers would ride with a drunken driver. Fifty-three percent said only half of their friends use seat belts.

Awareness and Education was given a B, with 95 percent saying they are more aware of the issues today than they were 10 years ago. Forty-six percent said they are being adequately prepared to deal with AIDS.

Factors that influence teens were given a C-, with students saying there is a fair amount of positive influence. Families are the major influence for teens who decide not to drink or use drugs. Peers are second. Seventy percent said teen prevention groups, such as Students Against Drunk Driving and others, help to prevent or delay alcohol or drug use.

The strongest negative influences are peers, older friends and the entertainment world. More than half of the students said television and movies rank first in "use" messages with music and magazines second. Radio offers the least "use" messages, according to the survey.

Fitting in with peers, peer pressure and wanting to "get wild" are reasons teens use drugs or alcohol. Sources for alcohol and drugs are older friends, other students, unrelated adults and parents and relatives.

Recreation and activities were rated a D, with 60 percent saying the Lehigh Valley does not offer enough drug/alcohol-free recreational activities.

Parents were given a C. Fifty-five percent said their parents had "no clue" or that they underestimate alcohol and drug use in high school, and 85 percent said the same about parents' knowledge of use by middle school students.

Schools were given a C. Eighty-one percent gave high ratings to student assistance programs, 60 percent gave guidance counselors a high ratings, and 57 percent gave teachers high ratings. Six percent said schools are the biggest influence not to drink. Sixty-nine percent see a connection between such use and violence, and 84 percent said there is a connection between drug/alcohol use and date or acquaintance violence.

The work of the council was endorsed by state Rep. Joseph Uliana, R-135th District, and area agencies, including AAA of the Lehigh Valley and the Allentown Health Bureau.

Executive Deputy Attorney General Joseph Peters, who is responsible for 200 undercover agents, told the students they should give themselves an A for their efforts. He praised the work of the council and commended students for their willingness to examine the program, find out what is right and continue with it.

"I salute you," he said. "It is not government that can fix the problem. It is human beings. You are the model human beings. You are the people who will make anything happen."

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism. This year, with Surgeon General Antonia C. Novello as honorary chairman, the theme is "Let's Draw the Line on Underage Drinking."

Miller said 200 families are enrolled in the Safe Homes Program in which parents pledge not to allow parties while they are not home, not to serve or allow underage alcohol consumption in their homes and not to allow drug use.